Islamabad: On the occasion of International Women’s Day (IDW), the Center for Strategic Perspectives (CSP) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) organized a roundtable discussion titled “Inclusion of Women in Pakistan’s Political Discourse”. The keynote speaker for the round table discussion was Ms. Fauzia Viqar, Federal Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment of Women in the Workplace. Other panelists included: former Ambassador Seema Ilahi Baloch; Dr. Salma Malik, Associate Professor, QAU; Major Wajiha Arhsad, Deputy Director, Information Operations Division, ISPR; Ms. Atiya Amir, Deputy Program Manager, Radio Pakistan; Ms Shanza Faiq, Deputy Director, Office of the Secretary of State; and Dr. Fareeha Armughan, Head of Evidence Action Research Centre, SDPI.
Dr. In her opening remarks, Neelum Nigar, director of CSP, connected the discussion with the theme of MDŽ 2024 and envisioned a world equal to men and women without prejudice. She emphasized that the talk will shed light on the key role of women in shaping political discourses and their participation in key areas such as economy, foreign policy, diplomacy, energy and media in the specific context of Pakistan.
DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, in his remarks on the occasion, highlighted the key role of women in shaping policies for the socio-economic development of Pakistan and promoting inclusive decision-making. He said that apart from equality, addressing the unique challenges women face unlocks the nation’s full potential. With their diverse perspectives, women enrich the policy discourse and offer essential insights for solving multifaceted challenges. Ambassador Sohail Mahmood also highlighted the role of historical figures such as Fatima Jinnah, Begum Ra’ana Liaquat Ali Khan and Shaista Ikramullah as well as contemporary leaders and highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to human rights and gender equality in various sectors. Additionally, Pakistan’s global advocacy, particularly at the United Nations, reflects efforts to strengthen the protection of women in conflict and post-conflict settings. The 2022 National Gender Policy Framework is evidence of the country’s continued commitment to women’s empowerment. He emphasized that while significant progress has been made, there are disparities where women lag behind men in all sectors and areas. Therefore, it is necessary not only to raise awareness, but also to persevere in continuous efforts and practical steps to increase gender equality, women’s empowerment and women’s position in society.
In her remarks, Ambassador Seema emphasized that the inclusion of women in political discourse is a fundamental prerequisite for gender equality and democracy. Addressing gender inequality is essential to achieving women’s empowerment and their active involvement in policy making. While Pakistan is moving in the right direction, alarming figures and facts highlight the urgent need for progress. She noted that according to available data, only 5% of women hold leadership positions. Ambassador Seema further elaborated on the fact that although women in Pakistan contribute across various sectors such as health, education, forces, politics, academia, etc., they face significant under-representation in senior positions and politics despite constituting half of the population.
Major Wajiha shed light on how women in Pakistan forces and UN peacekeepers are paving the way in the international world. Similarly, the participation of women in Pakistan’s armed forces is increasing and even extending to a combat role. However, this journey was not without problems. It is increasingly important to understand that gender is not a limitation but a strength. She emphasized that women in uniform bring new experience and strength to the table. The increase in the representation of women in the forces suggests that there are no limits to what women cannot achieve.
Dr. In her remarks, Salma Malik clarified that providing a safe social space, respect and safety is key to empowering women. Pakistan has had many “first women” in the last few decades who have been able to break the glass ceiling and cultural barriers to stand out in a male-dominated society. When talking about women in conflict, Dr. Salma emphasized that women are both direct and indirect victims of conflict and often remain at the back of the queue for reception and post-conflict rehabilitation; at the same time, women are also the cause of conflict in certain scenarios.
Dr. During her remarks, Fareeha shed light on the existing “implicit bias” that prevents women from reaching their full potential in the workplace. Because of systemic biases, institutions behave in ways that are biased and gender neutral. This bias is also deeply rooted in societal norms, culture, hierarchy and general social conditioning. To solve these challenges, it is necessary to bring about gradual changes in the architecture of society through interventions and discussions. It is equally important to define and strengthen the role of women in institutions, ministries and government by first identifying gender issues and then implementing policies to address them.
In her remarks, Ms. Shanza highlighted the increased role and inclusiveness of women in Pakistan’s foreign office. Working side-by-side with their male counterparts across desks and departments, women hold important roles at the forefront of diplomacy and foreign affairs at the State Department without any gender bias. Some strong women contribute to the political discourse. However, much remains to be done. Women’s participation must be more inclusive in areas such as conflict resolution, peace-building dialogue and political discourse. While Pakistan has made many strides in making its institutions, such as the Foreign Office, inclusive of women, more steps need to be taken to improve the representation of women in all aspects. The creation of what is characterized as a “feminist” foreign policy should also be considered.
In her keynote remarks, Ms. Fauzia Viqar highlighted the critical need for gender-responsive economic inclusion to remove a major barrier to women’s economic and financial empowerment. Pakistan ranks significantly lower in economic standing and underperforms in the Women’s Peace and Security Index. Despite these dismal statistics, substantial measures have been taken to address the issues that have allowed women to claim their rightful place in society. Mrs. Viqar emphasized the urgency of removing obstacles – social, institutional and systemic – in order to ensure equal competence of women. This is in line with ongoing efforts in Pakistan to promote a more inclusive and empowering environment for women.
To ensure consistent progress, Ms. Fauzia Viqar suggested a number of measures, including: (i) women refusing to believe that they are not equal; (ii) continuous efforts to implement guarantees of women’s equality and rights enshrined in the Constitution; iii) continued efforts to fulfill Pakistan’s international obligations under relevant conventions/treaties; (iv) overall increase in the representation of women; (v) implementing measures to include women’s perspectives in all aspects of political discourse; vi) the development of “networks of solidarity” and “mentorship” among women themselves; and (vii) the imperative for women to demonstrate leadership in all areas of their endeavors.
After the presentations, participants engaged in an interactive discussion. At the end, Ambassador Khalid Mahmood, Chairman of the Board of Trustees, ISSI presented a memento of the institute to the keynote speaker, followed by a group photograph.
